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And Then There Were Nun The Convent of Our Lady of Sorrows is out in the middle of nowhere. It is so far out in the sticks that you have to chase the owl off of your clock in the morning before you can tell what time it is. It is so far out in the boondocks that the emaciated wolves really do chase the starving bears through the frozen deserted forest. Well it’s not really that bad, but it is rather isolated. The convent is something like forty miles from Novosibersk, as the crow flies… as the narrow, one lane dirt track that leads to it winds, it’s more…

** Adult Content ** The Dark Side of the Divine Feminine It is relatively easy, in a Patriarchal Society, to pay tribute to the Creative Aspects of the Divine Feminine. Yet, one should at least appreciate the Non-Creative Aspects as well. In Tantra Yoga one uses the ability to arouse certain energies of “Lust”, that when retained by the Practitioner, are termed “Ojas”. When these Ojas physically and astrally manifest themselves, they are termed “Kalas” and relate very strongly to the Sexual, Astral, and Physical Fluids of the Male, and Female Human Being. The Female is representative of the Lunar Force in both its waxing and Waning aspects, just as…

Correllian Nativist Tradition It never ceases to surprise me the number of times I am approached about learning opportunities for newcomers to Wicca and Paganism.  Most times the same advice is given to those starting out on a new path: read and study more.  The question at that point becomes what to read and how much more to study? Often learning with an established tradition is not immediately possible for a newcomer.  So they muddle through a few books and then the individual often becomes discouraged.  However, there is a tradition that takes its commitment to outreach and teaching to new levels making learning accessible to everyone.  I’m pleased to…

The Wintertime Family The winter months can be very gloomy for us.  We contend with few hours of daylight, cold temperatures and often limited mobility due to snow and ice.  Beach frolicking is a distant memory, the piles of leaves for jumping in have been racked away and the fresh sprouts of spring are not quite stirring under their frozen blanket.  Despite the limitations of the season we crave activities to share that connect us to the quite slumber going on under our feet.  This month we’ll look at some options for sharing this time as a family in terms of activities that connect the family unit and feed our…

The sun has set, and twilight settles dark over the autumn landscape. In another half an hour a harvest moon, swelling but not quite full, will rise over the eastern horizon, but for now the grove is thick with gray mist and half-seen shadows. In the center, a thin white altar cloth drapes a low, square stone; the cloth shifts once in a while, ghostly and almost whispering with the silent breeze that barely moves the trees. The altar itself is decorated with gourds, dried pale aster blossoms and pressed fall leaves collected from the local landscape over the past week, bringing out subtle shades of yellow, orange, russet and…

The Carousel Collection The circle has always had magical properties. It is said to be the purest and most profound symbol in existence. It has no beginning, and no end. In this sense, it represents infinity, eternity, wholeness of spirit, and femininity. Circles rule the world! Mathematically speaking, a circle is defined as a shape in which all points are equidistant from the center. The study of its unique qualities led to the development of calculus and geometry. It was recognized before the beginning of recorded history, and is the basis for the wheel. Together with the invention of circular gears during the Industrial Revolution, it made machinery and much…

Mistletoe Mistletoe (Viscum album –European Mistletoe; Phoradendron leucarpum and P. flavescens – Oak Mistletoe/American Mistletoe ) is also known as All Heal, Birdlime, Devil’s Fuge, Donnerbesen, European Mistletoe, Golden Bough, Holy Wood, Lignam sanctae crucis, Misseltoe, Thunderbesem, Witches Broom and Wood of the Cross.   It is known as all purpose or “All Heal” herb by the Druids.  Mistletoe is found in Winter Holiday season and can be found in Europe and the United States.   Also, Mistletoe is a parasite and only grows on a host plant.  So if you decide to grow Mistletoe, make sure to grow it with a plant that you would not be upset if it weakens…

Cinnamon, Cardamom & Nutmeg The aroma of winter is wood smoke and evergreen. But winter holidays smell spicy. Herbs that grow only in the tropics – such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mace, cardamom, allspice, and vanilla – are called spices. Their aromatic oils and volatile esters entice us with delicious smells and mouth-watering tastes. And spices warm us from the inside, as if we had ingested the tropical sun on a cold day. Spices help preserve food and counter a variety of illnesses, too. Come, sit and warm your feet by the fire. Close your eyes and imagine the dense green forests where aromatic spices grow. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) made…

Since it’s the holiday season it seems only fitting that we take a look inward at this time of year.  We often take stock of the what we are thankful for and start planting the seeds of what will be sown in the comming year.  The focus of the meditation will be to acknowledge your spiritual accomplishments, and set your goals for spiritual growth. You will want a few items before we begin.  You’ll want a candle, a notebook, and a pen.  These tools will help you to focus on your goals and to help them manifest. Since we are talking about spiritual growth a candle of white, silver, or…

The Winter Solstice or Yule is one of the Lesser Wiccan Sabbats, and it is also the shortest day of the year, and hence – the longest night. This usually takes place on December 21st. Other than the most common name of Yule, various other names for the Winter Solstice include Midwinter, Yuletide (the Teutonic version), Alban han (Caledonii Tradition, or the Druids), Feill Fionnain (Pecti-Wita Tradition, which falls on December 22nd). Yuletide lasts from December 20th through December 31st. It begins on “Mother Night” and ends twelve days later, on “Yule Night”, hence the “Twelve Days of Christmas” tradition. Alban han, unlike all the others, is not considered a…